Golf academy to produce stars
The golf academy at the club has been around for nine years with Dube passionately working with young players.
If you have ever been to the Royal Oak Country Club on a Saturday morning then you have probably seen a group of youngsters working with club manager Kenneth Dube and other trainers.
In the past he has seen some of his protégés go on to become professional players, like him.
“I felt that sometimes you need to give back to the youngsters, especially when you are seeing a problem in the world and our country. Things like drugs are an issue,” said the former PGA South African Player of the Year.
“When I looked at it I thought golf is the thing that can take kids away from the streets. This golf academy doesn’t only cater for people in Brakpan. I’ve got people from Kwa-Thema, Tsakani and Daveyton.”
Dube also wants to dispel the notion that golf is only played by wealthy people.
“I want all those people who think they cannot play because they are not privileged to come play and join the golf academy. We’ll look after them,” he said.
Working with young players is something that obviously satisfies Dube.
“It’s nice seeing someone starting from scratch and moving up to become a professional. That makes me very happy,” said Dube.
“It tells me that I’ve planted that seed and that seed has now become a big tree.”
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One of those ‘seeds’ seems to be young Chante Reynecke who has only been with the academy for a month.
“I wanted to play at school,” she said.
“I’m the only girl looking to play for my school (Hoërskool Stoffberg).”
While Reynecke is still new to the sport there are some who have been training at the academy for a few years, like Sandile Mahlangu.
“Golf is a way to release stress for me,” said Mahlangu.
Mahlangu clearly admires his coach and named Dube as his favourite player.
The academy has youngsters who just want to enjoy the game and then there are those who dream of going all the way in the sport.
Langa Nhlengethwa is one of those who would love to play golf professionally one day.
“I want to start working towards becoming a professional as soon as I finish my matric,” said the 18-year-old.
Dube clearly enjoys seeing how determined his students are and would like to see them emulate others who he has coached in the past.
“There are a lot of players playing on the Sunshine Tour who come from this academy,” he said.
The professional player is grateful for the sponsors who help the academy.
“I’ve got guys like Impala Plats who are sponsoring us. They are helping the kids and I appreciate having people like that,” he said.
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